BENDER, Ray A. 1888-1945

BENDER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/7/2016 at 14:02:11

Ray A. Bender Killed In Car Accident

Car Gets Out Of Control And Turns Over In Ditch Near Conrad Late Saturday Night

Ray A. Bender, who for the past 15 years had been employed on the Meyers farm three miles south of Grundy Center, was killed Saturday night when his car got out of control and turned over in a ditch by the side of the road. The accident happened three miles north of Conrad shortly before midnight Saturday. Bender was thrown through the top of the car and he landed by the side of he road with his head and face crushed.

The Smith brothers were driving in the same direction and saw the car roll into the ditch. A third car and driver was only a short distance behind. Bender was unconscious when his body was found, but he was still alive. He was placed in a car and rushed to the hospital at Marshalltown. He died a few minutes after he was brought to the hospital.

Bender had been living by himself in a tenant house on the Meyer farm. He was in Grundy Center Saturday evening and left for home early and had visited with Mr. and Mrs. Wilhau, who are now residing on the Meyer farm and for whom Bender was working. He told them when he left that he was going to drive to Conrad to buy a pair of overalls and the Wilhaus heard him drive away in his car shortly after. He was on his way home from Conrad when the accident occurred. The car apparently skidded on a patch of ice in the road and jumped to one side and got out of control. It was a Model A Ford.

The body was brought to the Coffman funeral home on Sunday. Funeral services were held at the funeral home Tuesday afternoon. The services were conducted by Rev. Virgil Smith, pastor of the First Presbyterian church. Members of the Grundy Legion Post conducted the services at the grave. Taps was sounded by Scout Jimmy Mol. Burial was in the Grundy Center cemetery.

Ray Bender was well known in this community. He was a member of the Grundy Legion Post. He was a veteran of World War I and was with the American army in France. He was 56 years old. He was a good worker, he was loyal to his employers and they liked him.

Mr. Bender was born on a Marshall county farm near Gilman and he grew up there and was inducted into the armed service from Marshall county. He never married.

Mr. Bender is survived by four brothers and three sisters, John Bender of Hastings, Neb., Will and Harry of Carthage, S.D., Mrs. Anna Wilson of Des Moines, Mrs. Cora Shinn of Salem, Ore., and Mrs. Guy Patten and Eldo Bender of Huron, So. Dak.

Relatives from a distance who were here at the funeral service were John Bender, Hastings, Neb., Wm. Bender, Carthage, So. Dak.; Mr. and Mrs. Guy Patten, Huron, So. Dak.; Mrs. D. H. Wilson of Des Moines, and also several relatives from Marshall county.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 22 February 1945, pg 1